Tunisia expecting fiery clash

Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi is expecting clashes when his side meets North African rivals Algeria in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.

The sides meet in a tough Group D opener in the so called ‘group of death’ on Tuesday, with the Ivory Coast and Togo to come later in the tournament.

Both have won the tournament – Tunisia in 2004 and Algeria in 1990 – and Trebelsi is expecting a fierce encounter with little room for error in the group.

“It’s a game against brothers but it’s a football game. There will be aggression for sure, there will be some clashes but it stays on the field,” Trabelsi said.

“I believe that the most focused team which keeps it’s calm and which won’t get involved in clashes will win the game.”

Algeria won on the last occasion that the two sides met in a 2011 friendly and have climbed to second in the African rankings under coach Vahid Halilhodzic.

But Bosnian boss played down his sides chances in South Africa.

“We are looking forward to start the competition. It’s a tough tournament,” Halilhodzic said.

“I am optimistic but we will see what is going to happen. I don’t know realistically how ambitious we can be.

“But what I know is that the Algerian team will do everything to get the best possible result.”